Student Story
I am truly grateful to be part of the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Loma Linda University. The faculty genuinely want to see the students succeed and I feel genuinely cared for. My experience thus far has been a dream come true.
🧠Discover your path in psychology—sign up for our Virtual Info Session on May 7 to explore our programs, meet faculty, and get your questions answered.
At a Glance
- 6-year program (including internship)
- APA-accredited* program
- Scientist-practitioner model placing equal emphasis on research and practice, with optional specializations available
- One-on-one academic, research, and clinical mentoring in a highly respected health care setting
- Practicum experiences within multidisciplinary settings, including LLU-affiliated and non-LLU practicum sites
- Embedded curriculum for practice with a broad range of patient populations (e.g., children, adults, couples, families, military members, veterans, medically ill, substance use) across a variety of settings (e.g., general, private, forensic, and VA hospitals; university/college counseling centers, community mental health centers)
- Embedded curriculum for practice with active-duty military and veterans
- Christian environment emphasizing integrated learning and compassionate whole person care
- Embedded professional self-care
Director of Clinical Training
Dr. Colleen Brenner
PhD
Professor, Psychology
Director of Clinical Training, PhD Program
Standards of Accreditation
As an APA-accredited program, the program adheres to the Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology. Therefore, Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data are made available for examination by the public, current students, and students who may consider applying to the program.
About the Program
The PhD program (APA-Accredited) in clinical psychology at Loma Linda University provides a unique environment for professional training. Loma Linda University Medical Center is the largest medical facility in the Inland Empire, and our scientist-practitioner training program allows students to receive training that emphasizes health psychology, spirituality, and health across the life-span. The program has a firm foundation in research but also provides unique clinical experiences in a wide array of community, practice, and medical settings. Students are encouraged to develop an emphasis in at least one area of specialization. Students may develop other areas in consultation with their academic advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions: PhD Program
What are you looking for in a good PhD applicant?
Fit is the most important factor in our decision process. We are looking for students whose area of interest overlaps with the research interests of the faculty you are applying to work with. The next most important factor is research experience. For the PhD program, we expect applicants to have had some related academic research experience. Students with solid research experience (e.g., conference presentations or publications), good letters of recommendation from their academic and research advisors and who convey how their desired career path aligns with the work of the Loma Linda University faculty member they are applying to work with, really stand out.
How do I know if I should apply to the PhD or the PsyD program?
The PhD degree is geared more towards research, while the PsyD program focuses more on clinical practice. While there is wide variability in the career paths of the alumni from both of our programs, the emphasis, training experiences and focus of the programs differ with respect to these two areas. At Loma Linda University, the PsyD program is 4 years plus a year-long clinical internship, while the PhD program is 5 years plus a year-long clinical internship. The expectation is that the PhD students will spend this additional time working towards research publications and conference presentations.
What is it like to study at a religious-affiliated institution?
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist-affiliated university. This means students must agree to uphold the values of the University. Students who have classes on campus are required to attend a chapel service once per week, and a couple of other chapel services throughout the year (e.g., at graduation). Many students find the chapel service to be a nice break in their day, and a chance to calmly reflect on the reasons for their chosen profession. It does not mean that you need to be a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to attend. In fact, the religious makeup of our students is incredibly varied, and we welcome students from all religious denominations, sexual and gender orientations, ethnic/cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
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*Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone 202-336-5979 / Email [email protected]
Web www.apa.org/ed/accreditation